Naturally Proud is a weekly series introducing the community to someone they might — or might not — know. The feature is meant to highlight everyone from neighbors to community leaders. Readers can nominate friends, neighbors and co-workers by sending the information to areanews@marshfieldnewsherald.com or calling 715-384-3131.

MARSHFIELD – Children and animals have a special place in the heart of Brandi Reed, 26, of Marshfield. A fourth-grade teacher with the Marshfield School District, Reed also volunteers at the city’s zoo through the Wildwood Zoologial Society.

Reed doesn’t just volunteer an hour or Saturday of her time here or there at the zoo. Since May 1, she’s been a fixture of the new Wildwood Zoological Society store at the zoo.

“If it wasn’t for Brandi, I don’t know how we would have done this,” said Tom Buttke, a longtime member of the zoological society.

The society converted a zoo garage into a store, which opened in May with Buttke and Reed essentially providing the staffing so that it is open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A self-described people person, Reed said she enjoys greeting people and answering questions about the zoo animals.

“The most questions I get are about the foxes and the bear exhibit,” she said.

The natural odor of a fox is similar to the scent of a skunk, Reed said.

“People get a whiff of that and wonder why there’s that skunk smell,” she said. “Then people also ask when the zoo will get another bear and I show them the (draft drawings of the) plans.”

For almost 40 years, Wildwood Zoo was home to Ms. Grizz, a grizzly bear who died in 2011.

“There’s lots of people that would like to see another bear at the zoo,” Reed said.

Historically, the zoo has been a home for a bear, with the care assigned to the city’s mayor.

“When the zoo started, one of the mayor’s duties was taking care of the zoo animals,” she said.

While all of the animals and birds are fun to watch and discuss with zoo patrons, Reed said her favorites among the critters are the prairie dogs.

“The (prairie dog) babies will be coming out soon and they are adorable,” said Reed, explaining the young remain underground until they are about half the size of an adult.

“There’s always an adult prairie dog that acts as a look-out and yips if it senses danger,” she said. “They are so curious and just fun to watch.”

The zoological society established the store to serve as a fundraising tool.

“We’d thought it would be a good summer if we raised $1,000,” said Reed, who added they surpassed that goal within the first month of being open.

“Now our goal is $10,000,” she said.

The shop sells a variety of reasonably priced items, Reed said.

“We want this to be affordable for everyone, so our markup isn’t big,” she said. The top selling products have been small plush toy wolves and 54-inch-long plush toy snakes.

If interested

To join the Wildwood Zoological Society, which also has a special program for children, Zoo Crew, go to the website: http://bit.ly/1oPcfxw

Information about the society also is available at the Zoo Store, which is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and is located at the west entrance in the Ludwig Building.